GB1600321A

GB1600321A - Crutch or other walking aid

Info

Publication number: GB1600321A
Application number: GB1976878A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Mekanoverken AB
Current assignee: Mekanoverken AB
Priority date: 1978-05-16
Filing date: 1978-05-16
Publication date: 1981-10-14

Description

(54) CRUTCH OR OTHER WALKING AID (71) We. MEKANOVERKEN AB, of S-330 12 Forsheda, Sweden, a Swedish Company, do hereby declare the invention, for which we pray that a patent may be granted to us. and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement: This invention relates to a crutch or other walking aid of the type which is telescopically collapsible.

A disabled person's crutches or similar means of assistance are usually of such a length that, when not in use, thev are too unwieldy or bulky. For this reason difficulties for example, are frequent when transporting by car a disabled person and his means of assistance.

There are previously known several different tvpes of crutches being foldable or collapsible to decrease their length when not in use. However, apart from being collapsible. a crutch should also be designed in such a way that the length thereof is adjustable to suit the person for whom it is intended as an aid. To meet these requirements previously known crutches either have been provided with two different devices, one for folding the crutch and one for adjusting its length, or have been equipped with a device for making it possible telescopically to reduce its length the length adjusting being carried out by choosing one of many possible positions for use.The first-mentioned type of crutch is expensive and complicated while the last-mentioned type as currentlv constructed has the serious disadvantage that the chosen length setting is lost every time the crutch is folded or collapsed.

Therefore. the purpose of this invention is to provide a crutch or a similar means of assistance which is designed in such a way that it is simple and cheap to manufacture and provided with a device making it possible to fold or collapse the crutch without loosing a pre-selected length setting thereof.

To meet these requirements, a crutch or other walking aid according to the invention comprises inner and outer tube portions telescopically displaceable relative to each other and a locking device for locking the tube portions to each other when in an extended condition, the locking device being movable along the crutch and fixable at different positions therealong to allow it to perform its locking function for different, pre-selected lengths of extended crutch, wherein the locking device comprises a spring-loaded locking pin supported by one of the tube portions, said locking pin being adjustable for projection through any selected one of a series of openings provided in the wall of the said one of the tube portions and for co-operation of the through-projecting pin with an opening provided in the other of the tube portions for locking the tube portions to each other in a pre-selected extended condition of the crutch.

A preferred locking device is constituted by a spring-loaded locking pin supported by an inner one of said tube portions, said locking pin being adjustable for projecting from inside the tube portion through a selected one of a series of openings provided in the wall of said tube portion and for co-operating with one opening provided in the wall of an outer one of said tube portions for locking the tube portions to each other in a pre-selected extended condition of the crutch.

Another preferred locking device is constituted by a spring-loaded locking pin supported by an outer one of said tube portions, said locking pin being adjustable for projecting into said tube portion through a selected one of a series openings provided in the wall thereof, and for co-operating with one opening provided in the wall of an inner one of the tube portions for locking the tube portions to each other in a pre selected extended condition of the crutch.

Two embodiments of the invention will be described below by way of example; reference is made to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 shows a first embodiment of a crutch according to the invention; Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view showing part of the crutch of Figure 1 when extended: Figure 3 shows a second embodiment of a crutch according to the invention; and Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view showing part of the crutch of Figure 3.

In Figure 1 there is shown, in a first embodiment, a crutch in its collapsed condition. The crutch comprises an outer tube portion 2 and an inner tube portion 4 which are telescopically slidable relative to each other. The outer tube portion is provided with a conventional support-and gripping means 6. At the lower end the inner tube portion is provided with a ferrule 8.

At its upper end the inner tube portion 4 is provided with a locking means shown in greater detail in Figure 2. As is apparent from this figure the locking means comprises a locking pin 10 supported by a leaf spring 12 provided inside the inner tube portion 4.

The locking pin 10 projects out through a selected one of a series of openings 14 provided along the wall of the inner tube portion 4. In a one of its extended and locked condition of the crutch the locking pin 10 projects also through an opening 16 provided in the wall of the outer tube portion 2.

To make it possible that the crutch can be used by different persons having different heights the length of the crutch is adjustable. To this end the locking means is displacable along the inner tube portion 4 so that the locking pin 10 can be brought to project through a selected one of the openings 14. Such a pre-setting of the desired length of the crutch is carried out by displacing the leaf-spring 12 and the locking pin 10 to a desired position inside the inner tube portion 4. In order to facilitate said displacing of the locking means the leafspring is provided with holes 18 in which for example a screwdriver or another pointed tool can be engaged through appropriate ones of the openings 14. It is evident that the locking pin 10 during the displacing of the locking means is depressed to a position completely inside the inner tube portion 4.

In Figure 3 there is shown a second embodiment of a crutch according to the invention. In this figure also the crutch is shown in a collapsed condition. The crutch comprises an outer tube portion 20 and an inner tube portion 22, said portions being telescopically slidable relative to each other.

The outer tube portion carries a supportand gripping device 24 of a type conventionally used on a disabled person's crutches. At one end (the lower) the inner tube portion 22 is provided with a ferrule 26. The lower end of the outer tube portion 20 is provided with a locking device for locking the crutch in an extended condition. The locking device is shown on a larger scale and in a cross-sectional view in Figure 4. The locking device comprises a sleeve 28 surrounding the outer tube portion 20. The sleeve in turn supports a lever 30 having an operating portion 32 protruding from the sleeve and at the end remote therefrom a locking pin 34.

The locking pin extends from the sleeve into the outer tube portion 20 through a selected one of a series of openings 36 provided in the wall of the outer tube portion 20. A spring 38 urges the lever 30 in such a direction that the locking pin 34 is biased towards a position in which it is projecting into the inner tube portion 22. An abuttment plate 40 provided in the sleeve 28 prevents the locking pin 34 from being withdrawn far enough from the opening 36 in the outer tube portion against the action of the spring 38 that the locking pin looses its engaging relationship with said opening.

The inner tube portion 22 is at its end remote from the ferrule 26 provided with an opening 42 in which the locking pin 34 engages in the extended and locked conditions of the crutch. When collapsing the crutch the operating portion 32 of the lever 30 is pressed towards the outer tube portion so that the locking pin 34 is withdrawn from the opening 42 in the inner tube portion 22 and the tube portion are telescopically slid into each other. If desired the inner tube portion 22 can be provided also at its lower end with an opening enabling locking of the crutch in its collapsed condition.

Pre-setting of the length of the crutch is carried out by placing the locking pin 34 in the selected one of the openings 36. When altering this pre-setting of the length of the crutch the abuttment plate 40 is removed so that the locking pin 34 is brought out of engagement with the opening 36 by pressing the operating portion 32 further towards the outer tube portion 32. Then the entire locking device is displaced along the outer tube portion 20 so that the locking pin 34 is brought in engagement with a new selected one of the openings 36. For preventing the altered pre-setting of the length of the crutch from being lost the abuttment 40 is brought back in place so that the locking pin 34 cannot be unintentionally withdrawn from the selected opening.

WHAT WE CLAIM IS: 1. A crutch or other walking aid comprising inner and outer tube portions telescopically displaceable relative to each other and a locking device for locking the tube

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. selected extended condition of the crutch. Two embodiments of the invention will be described below by way of example; reference is made to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 shows a first embodiment of a crutch according to the invention; Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view showing part of the crutch of Figure 1 when extended: Figure 3 shows a second embodiment of a crutch according to the invention; and Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view showing part of the crutch of Figure 3. In Figure 1 there is shown, in a first embodiment, a crutch in its collapsed condition. The crutch comprises an outer tube portion 2 and an inner tube portion 4 which are telescopically slidable relative to each other. The outer tube portion is provided with a conventional support-and gripping means 6. At the lower end the inner tube portion is provided with a ferrule 8. At its upper end the inner tube portion 4 is provided with a locking means shown in greater detail in Figure 2. As is apparent from this figure the locking means comprises a locking pin 10 supported by a leaf spring 12 provided inside the inner tube portion 4. The locking pin 10 projects out through a selected one of a series of openings 14 provided along the wall of the inner tube portion 4. In a one of its extended and locked condition of the crutch the locking pin 10 projects also through an opening 16 provided in the wall of the outer tube portion 2. To make it possible that the crutch can be used by different persons having different heights the length of the crutch is adjustable. To this end the locking means is displacable along the inner tube portion 4 so that the locking pin 10 can be brought to project through a selected one of the openings 14. Such a pre-setting of the desired length of the crutch is carried out by displacing the leaf-spring 12 and the locking pin 10 to a desired position inside the inner tube portion 4. In order to facilitate said displacing of the locking means the leafspring is provided with holes 18 in which for example a screwdriver or another pointed tool can be engaged through appropriate ones of the openings 14. It is evident that the locking pin 10 during the displacing of the locking means is depressed to a position completely inside the inner tube portion 4. In Figure 3 there is shown a second embodiment of a crutch according to the invention. In this figure also the crutch is shown in a collapsed condition. The crutch comprises an outer tube portion 20 and an inner tube portion 22, said portions being telescopically slidable relative to each other. The outer tube portion carries a supportand gripping device 24 of a type conventionally used on a disabled person's crutches. At one end (the lower) the inner tube portion 22 is provided with a ferrule 26. The lower end of the outer tube portion 20 is provided with a locking device for locking the crutch in an extended condition. The locking device is shown on a larger scale and in a cross-sectional view in Figure 4. The locking device comprises a sleeve 28 surrounding the outer tube portion 20. The sleeve in turn supports a lever 30 having an operating portion 32 protruding from the sleeve and at the end remote therefrom a locking pin 34. The locking pin extends from the sleeve into the outer tube portion 20 through a selected one of a series of openings 36 provided in the wall of the outer tube portion 20. A spring 38 urges the lever 30 in such a direction that the locking pin 34 is biased towards a position in which it is projecting into the inner tube portion 22. An abuttment plate 40 provided in the sleeve 28 prevents the locking pin 34 from being withdrawn far enough from the opening 36 in the outer tube portion against the action of the spring 38 that the locking pin looses its engaging relationship with said opening. The inner tube portion 22 is at its end remote from the ferrule 26 provided with an opening 42 in which the locking pin 34 engages in the extended and locked conditions of the crutch. When collapsing the crutch the operating portion 32 of the lever 30 is pressed towards the outer tube portion so that the locking pin 34 is withdrawn from the opening 42 in the inner tube portion 22 and the tube portion are telescopically slid into each other. If desired the inner tube portion 22 can be provided also at its lower end with an opening enabling locking of the crutch in its collapsed condition. Pre-setting of the length of the crutch is carried out by placing the locking pin 34 in the selected one of the openings 36. When altering this pre-setting of the length of the crutch the abuttment plate 40 is removed so that the locking pin 34 is brought out of engagement with the opening 36 by pressing the operating portion 32 further towards the outer tube portion 32. Then the entire locking device is displaced along the outer tube portion 20 so that the locking pin 34 is brought in engagement with a new selected one of the openings 36. For preventing the altered pre-setting of the length of the crutch from being lost the abuttment 40 is brought back in place so that the locking pin 34 cannot be unintentionally withdrawn from the selected opening. WHAT WE CLAIM IS:

1. A crutch or other walking aid comprising inner and outer tube portions telescopically displaceable relative to each other and a locking device for locking the tube

portions to each other when in an extended condition, the locking device being movable along the crutch and fixable at different positions therealong to allow it to perform its locking function for different, preselected lengths of extended crutch, wherein the locking device comprises a springloaded locking pin supported by one of the tube portions, said locking pin being adjustable for projection through any selected one of a series of openings provided in the wall of the said one of the tube portions and for co-operation of the through-projecting pin with an opening provided in the other of the tube portions for locking the tube portions to each other in a pre-selected extended condition of the crutch.

2. A crutch according to claim 1, wherein the locking pin of the locking device is supported by the inner tube portion.

3. A crutch according to claim 2, wherein the locking pin is supported by a leaf spring provided inside the inner tube portion.

4. A crutch according to claim 3, wherein the leaf spring is provided with holes for facilitating displacement of the locking pin to a selected position by means of a tool projecting through appropriate ones of the openings in the wall of the inner tube portion.

5. A crutch according to claim 1, wherein the locking pin of the locking device is supported by the outer tube portion.

6. A crutch according to claim 5, wherein the locking pin is supported by a sleeve surrounding the outer tube portion.

7. A crutch according to claim 6, wherein the locking pin is supported by a pivotable spring-loaded lever in said sleeve.

8. A crutch according to claim 7 with a displaceable abutment plate in the sleeve, said plate in a first position, preventing the locking pin from being withdrawn from that opening in the outer tube portion in which it is positioned, and being displaceable to a second porition in which the locking pin can be completely withdrawn from said opening to permit moving the locking pin to another one of the openings constituting said series so that the pre-set length of the crutch can be altered.

9. A crutch substantially as hereinbefore disclosed with reference to and as illustrated in Figures 1 and 2 or 3 and 4 of the accompanying drawings.